MEET THE DIECIDUES

Joseph Diecidue, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Joe Diecidue was born and raised on New Orleans.   He graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. He is a World War II veteran and served in the US Navy Reserves for 20 years.   Joe's father Sam, a used car salesman by trade, created a 5-acre Victory Garden in St. Tammany Parish while young Joe was off at war.   When Joe returned stateside he joined his father and they harvested timbers from the property upon which they built a family home.   The extra lumber attracted the interest of inquiring neighbors who asked about purchasing it.   It was out of these transactions that Sam Dash & Son Lumber was born on Kentucky Street in New Orleans.

Twenty years later Joe expanded the business into a full-service lumber and building supply store, renaming the business Dash Building Materials Center Inc., dba Dash Lumber & Supply.   In 1968 the Diecidue's purchased land on Chef Menteur Highway and built a store and warehouse in New Orleans East.  

As a family-owned business owner Joe is committed to providing the best service and products to residential and commercial customers across the metro New Orleans area.   Dash Lumber & Supply was started with just 6 products and Joe and his sons have grown it to thousands of the finest building supply product lines from lumber and roofing materials to sheetrock and millwork.   Joe enjoys personally teaching his employees about the business and believes that employee training and education is an investment in the company's future with positive dividends for not only the business, but for employees and customers alike.   To that end Joe is most proud that he has provided his employees with the necessary training to do take offs of architectural blueprints, a service not found at any of the national building supply stores.  

Dash Lumber & Supply has served generations of customers with high quality products and exceptional customer service.   Joe Diecidue measures his success by the number of satisfied customers, and he continues to personally provide the friendliest, most knowledgeable staff to those who appreciate quality and value.

 

Michael Joseph Diecidue, President and Chief Executive Officer

Michael Diecidue was born into the lumber business with sawdust in his veins and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dash Lumber & Supply.   A third-generation business owner, born and raised in New Orleans, Michael knows the importance of building a company based on the principles of family and community led by a team of experienced professionals.  

Michael started working part-time for the family business in 1965.   After receiving his bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of New Orleans in 1973, he embarked on his future path.   Michael's experiences in everything from driving trucks and lift trucks, to sales and purchasing, as well as customer service, has given him a complete 360 view of the entire business process.   With that knowledge in hand he is committed to building strong relationships with customers, providing excellent support to suppliers and continued development of employees in a positive family work environment.

With over four decades of experience, Michael has seen many changes and improvements in the industry.   A market-based approach to achieving global sustainability is one of the most significant developments in his lifetime.   As sustainable and rapidly, renewable resources become the product of choice Dash Lumber & Supply takes its place at the forefront of the revolution as a Certified Green Dealer .  

Michael is a board member and Vice President of Lumbermen's Association of Texas; a Forest Products committee member of the Lumbermen's Merchandising Corporation, a $2 billion per year buying group; and a member of Vistage International.   When Michael isn't at Dash Lumber & Supply he enjoys traveling and playing handball.

 

Gary Edward Diecidue, Vice President

Gary Diecidue began working at Dash Lumber & Supply when he was just 16 years old.   As grandson and son of the owners he felt a strong commitment to help the family business grow and prosper.   Spending weekends and summers as a broom pusher, order puller and truck driver Gary mastered the fundamentals of the business.   In 1976, after attending Louisiana State University, Gary was ready to take on more challenging roles within the company.

Through extensive experience working as a salesman, store manager, purchasing agent, and Vice President of Operations Gary learned how important product knowledge and customer service are to a successful business.   As Vice President of Dash Lumber & Supply Gary is committed to establishing lasting relationships with customers.   It is his goal to continually strive to strengthen these relationships as well as establish new ones through his hands-on product knowledge and exemplary customer service.   He sees that customers' needs are responded to quickly, efficiently and professionally.  

Dash Lumber & Supply has survived turbulent years in the past and will do so in the future because it is steeped in the tradition that they not only supply building materials but more importantly the knowledge as best how to utilize them.   It is Gary Diecidue's belief that their real product is knowledge and customer service.

 

Theresa "Terry" Bell Diecidue, Director of Sales

Terry Diecidue has 35+ years experience in the lumber and building material industry.   For the last 29 years, Terry has worked in several capacities at Dash Lumber & Supply where she now serves as Director of Sales.  

Born in Key West, Florida, Terry relocated to Louisiana and attended the University of Southwest Louisiana (now ULL) prior to being hired at Ward Lumber as the first woman in inside sales and later promoted to Store Manager.   Terry excelled in this traditionally male dominated industry and was later employed in outside sales in the lumber division at Bernard Lumber.   She was the first woman to take on Management and Outside Sales positions in the Metro area.

In 1980 Terry was hired as Store Manager at Dash Lumber & Supply.   She later was named Director of Sales during which Terry managed many integral pieces of the business.   She developed a contractor sales department, which is responsible for blueprint estimates; she managed the hiring, training and development of sales personnel; and she oversaw customer relations and coordination between the sales team, customer service department and shipping department.  

Terry's biggest asset to Dash Lumber & Supply is her extensive job site experience in new construction and remodeling.   She loves the challenge of the business, continually learning about new materials, products and construction methods.   Participating as a member of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, Associated Building Contractors, Lumberman's Merchandising Coop, and Lumberman's Association of Texas Terry is afforded the opportunity to not only further her knowledge of the industry, but also develop new business.   As Director of Sales Terry is committed to promoting Dash Lumber & Supply as the place for the best information, products and services its customers need to complete a job.

When Terry is not providing a thorough understanding of the product and technique options that are available to customers and providing these at competitive prices and unmatched service, she enjoys swimming, walking, dancing, reading, church activities and spending time with family and friends.